What parts of the body does yellow fever affect?

A:

Quick Answer

Yellow fever attacks many organs, but it famously affects the liver, causing yellowing of the skin, with possible damage to the central nervous system and the renal system including the kidneys. Most people suffer from general malaise, muscle pain, headache and fever. However, if the illness persists, it then affects the vital organs.

Most people suffer the first set of problems, and then go into remission and recover; however, about 15 percent of people progress to the fatal stage of the illness. This happens after the short remission period and can cause liver and kidney damage. Symptoms include abdominal pain and jaundice from the liver damage and bleeding to occur from the nose, eyes, mouth or stomach, according to MedScape. It continues to attack the kidneys and can cause renal failure. Within this fatal stage of the disease, half die within 10 to 14 days while the rest survive and should suffer little organ damage.

There is no treatment for the disease and all treatment given is focused on fighting the symptoms in order to keep the patient comfortable. There are vaccinations available for yellow fever and those people visiting the affected areas of the world, mainly Africa and South America, should get the vaccine 30 days prior to traveling to those countries.